Slumdog Millionaire did not make me feel good....

[Spackling Compound]

Feel good movie? Comedy?

I saw it in a decrepit theater on the outside of Memphis. And during the movie I felt as if I didn't even deserve that.

I lost the feel good when the kid had his eyes burned out. Sort of had a hard time feeling the funny.

Is it just me?

[Chiroptera]

It's not just you.
Actually I've been disappointed in almost every "feel good movie" to come out since early 2008. All of them had the exact opposite affect on me. The only movie I've seen in the past year that actually seemed like a "feel good" movie to me wasn't even advertised as being that sort of movie, it was the Jim Carrey comedy "Yes Man."

[jesse_custer]

I agree, Slumdog Millionaire was not as heartwarming as some people said.

Spoiler in white:

For Christ sake, his brother INEXPLICABLY turns into Scarface and gets blown away while dude wins the grand prize!

However, the film was definitely manipulative as hell. It presents a very downtrodden underdog trying to woo a slap-your-grandmother gorgeous woman in the context of the most entertaining and popular modern game show.

I mean, seriously, how could I dislike it?

Film in 2008:

Boyle 1, Spielberg 0.

[jesse_custer]

By the way, if you want to watch a movie that makes you feel good, check out Kung Fu Panda.

[Black Atom]

It's a "feel good" movie in the sense that Shawshank Redemption is I'd guess.

[Christopher Cross Is God]

To think that goofy looking kid is going to play Zuko in Avatar.

[Spackling Compound]

I agree, Slumdog Millionaire was not as heartwarming as some people said.

Spoiler in white:

For Christ sake, his brother INEXPLICABLY turns into Scarface and gets blown away while dude wins the grand prize!

However, the film was definitely manipulative as hell. It presents a very downtrodden underdog trying to woo a slap-your-grandmother gorgeous woman in the context of the most entertaining and popular modern game show.

I mean, seriously, how could I dislike it?

Film in 2008:

Boyle 1, Spielberg 0.

I also thought that the girl wasn't worth the chase. Really.

[jesse_custer]

She was pretty, but her characterization was very thin.

[KevinTBrown]

This movie never should have been nominated for an Oscar, let alone win best picture!

:rolleyes:

[Venom Melendez]

To think that goofy looking kid is going to play Zuko in Avatar.

He's not guufy looking. And hey he's the only casting choice i like.



also Slumdog millionare was awesome. And it indeed made me feel good.


This movie never should have been nominated for an Oscar, let alone win best picture!

:rolleyes:

I disagree. I mean really what else was there?

[jesse_custer]

This movie never should have been nominated for an Oscar, let alone win best picture!

If Slumdog Millioniare had been released in 2006 or 2007, I would completely agree.

But 2008 was a lackluster year. Slumdog wasn't an excellent film, but it was good enough to rise above a lot of other mediocre shit.

[Spackling Compound]

He's not guufy looking. And hey he's the only casting choice i like.



also Slumdog millionare was awesome. And it indeed made me feel good.

It made Mexico look good, at least.

[Christopher Cross Is God]

He's not guufy looking. And hey he's the only casting choice i like.



He's definitely goofy looking, and doesn't fit the image of Zuko (Then again, nothing in the casting fits).

[EdContradictory]

Who the hell ever said it was a comedy?

I'd call it "uplifting" before I'd call it "feel good."

The movie itself doesn't lie to you. It starts with a torture for goodness sake. If you don't know what you're in for from that, well, I don't know what to tell you.

[Karl O'Neill]

That bit were his brother shoots the gangsters while sitting in a bath full of money is the silliest thing I have ever seen.

what a stupid fucking scene. it just didn;t make sense.

[jesse_custer]

Yes, it was. As I implied, the whole "My brother is Scarface now" subplot was fucking stupid.

[Ryan Day]

The brother was set up as being willing to do whatever it takes to get out of the slums, happily willing to set aside morals and take advantage of any situation. It's pretty constant throughout the "growing up" sequences - he wants to look after his brother, but he won't ultimately put anyone else ahead of himself.

[Spackling Compound]

Who the hell ever said it was a comedy?

I'd call it "uplifting" before I'd call it "feel good."

The movie itself doesn't lie to you. It starts with a torture for goodness sake. If you don't know what you're in for from that, well, I don't know what to tell you.

It is listed as "COMEDY DRAMA" in the genre category of most movie listings/reviews.


Slumdog Millionaire
As 18-year-old Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) answers questions on the Indian version of ``Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,'' flashbacks show how he got there. Part of a stable of young thieves after their mother dies, Jamal and his brother, Salim, survive on the streets of Mumbai. Salim finds the life of crime agreeable, but Jamal scrapes by with small jobs until landing a spot on the game show.

As 18-year-old Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) answers questions on the Indian version of ``Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,'' flashbacks show how he got there. Part of a stable of young thieves after their mother dies, Jamal and his brother, Salim, survive on the streets of Mumbai. Salim finds the life of crime agreeable, but Jamal scrapes by with small jobs until landing a spot on the game show.

Tags: There are no tags.
Genre: Comedy Drama
Trailer: Watch
Web: Official Movie Site
Creator: Zvents

[Venom Melendez]

He's definitely goofy looking, and doesn't fit the image of Zuko (Then again, nothing in the casting fits).

*shrugs* I don't think he's goofy looking.

[jesse_custer]

The brother was set up as being willing to do whatever it takes to get out of the slums, happily willing to set aside morals and take advantage of any situation. It's pretty constant throughout the "growing up" sequences - he wants to look after his brother, but he won't ultimately put anyone else ahead of himself.

Spoiler in white:

Sure, but it's hard for me to believe that someone would spend so much time looking after his brother only to point a gun in his face after a thin "I'm a gangster now" plot point. Boyle never implied the brother was perfect, but that transformation halfway through the film felt like a cheap seesaw trick.

Furthermore, his brother's death had no impact because he's a piece of shit that should have been killed off earlier.

[Charles RB]

The movie itself doesn't lie to you. It starts with a torture for goodness sake. If you don't know what you're in for from that, well, I don't know what to tell you.

Ditto. And seeing someone suffer through all that and triumph, that wouldn't be uplifting and feel good?

And I'd dispute any claims about there being no comedy, there's a load of funny bits - I can't be the only one laughing about the bit at the end with the toilet, can I?

[Christopher Cross Is God]

*shrugs* I don't think he's goofy looking.

How can I possibly argue with that?

http://photos.dev-patel.net/albums/userpics/normal_2%7E34.jpg

http://photos.dev-patel.net/albums/userpics/5%7E25.jpg

http://photos.dev-patel.net/albums/userpics/7%7E20.jpg

http://photos.dev-patel.net/albums/userpics/11%7E14.jpg

Disregarding the fact that Shyamalan seems to be making an attempt at a bizarre Bollywood/Middle East/teeny bopper amalgam with his casting choices, Dev Patel truly exemplifies the essence of Zuko.

[4PointOh]

Feel good movie? Comedy?

I saw it in a decrepit theater on the outside of Memphis. And during the movie I felt as if I didn't even deserve that.

I lost the feel good when the kid had his eyes burned out. Sort of had a hard time feeling the funny.

Is it just me?

OMG, I'm so glad you said this. I saw this film on DVD a few weeks back. When I told my friends that it was one of the most depressing films I ever saw because what it revealed about the treatment of children, they looked at me with this strange look and said, "But he won the million dollars and finally united with the love of his life," adamant that I had missed the point of the film.

:frown:

[Spackling Compound]

OMG, I'm so glad you said this. I saw this film on DVD a few weeks back. When I told my friends that it was one of the most depressing films I ever saw because what it revealed about the treatment of children, they looked at me with this strange look and said, "But he won the million dollars and finally united with the love of his life," adamant that I had missed the point of the film.

:frown:

I was told that the point was that the girl was the only good thing he had and he got her..and the dance at the end showed off that everyone was ok.

Do we have the same friends???

[Black Atom]

It is listed as "COMEDY DRAMA" in the genre category of most movie listings/reviews.

Well, if you consider guys who use paper bag puppets to advertise as authorities on film.

[Spackling Compound]

Well, if you consider guys who use paper bag puppets to advertise as authorities on film.

Sigh...here ya go then:

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=slumdog+millionaire+comedy&fr=yfp-t-501&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8

[jesse_custer]

and the dance at the end showed off that everyone was ok.

Ha!

In another way, the dance showed that Boyle wasn't willing to reject a lame Bollywood cliche.

[Spackling Compound]

Ha!

In another way, the dance showed that Boyle wasn't willing to reject a lame Bollywood cliche.

I thought it was paramount to having the Soul Train dancers end Roots....

[4PointOh]

I thought it was paramount to having the Soul Train dancers end Roots....

Thank you!

[Black Atom]

Sigh...here ya go then:

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=slumdog+millionaire+comedy&fr=yfp-t-501&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8

My point is that, in general, looking at the generic buckets retailers toss movies into to help them categorize stock for a reliable representation of what to expect from a given movie is probably not the safest bet.

[jesse_custer]

Black Atom makes a solid point.

I've seen American Psycho categorized as a horror film and 2001 categorized as an action film in video stores, for example.

[Christopher Cross Is God]

Black Atom makes a solid point.

I've seen American Psycho categorized as a horror film and 2001 categorized as an action film in video stores, for example.

Which is laughable. If I had to categorize the film, I'd call it a dark comedy........I could see people categorizing the book as horror (Although that would sell the book short), but not the film.

[Spackling Compound]

My point is that, in general, looking at the generic buckets retailers toss movies into to help them categorize stock for a reliable representation of what to expect from a given movie is probably not the safest bet.

Actually, I saw the movie when the critics were calling it a comedy. I didn't discriminate nor deconstruct the interwebzzz reviews. I just saw that it was a comedy, everyone was touting it as such, I was thinking, at worst, something on the lines of "Stand By Me".

Wrong.

[Charles RB]

I thought it was paramount to having the Soul Train dancers end Roots....

How is that paramount to emulating a stock thing from Indian films when doing a film set in India, starring Indians, and co-directed by an Indian?

[Black Atom]

Black Atom makes a solid point.

I've seen American Psycho categorized as a horror film and 2001 categorized as an action film in video stores, for example.

Yeah. Everything is "Action". It's like the "Rock" category at Virgin Megastore.

[Spackling Compound]

How is that paramount to emulating a stock thing from Indian films when doing a film set in India, starring Indians, and co-directed by an Indian?

I don't watch "Bollywood" films so didn't catch that as a common practice. I was watching it as a very dark drama that punctuated the futility of one man's life. The dance number at the end may mean something for Indians and those "in the know" but for me, as a white Westerner, it was like a pass on feeling bad.

[Charles RB]

The dance number at the end may mean something for Indians and those "in the know"

Those "in the know" would be a large number of Westerners who would be going to see a film set in India (and the audience in India, where it did quite well), since "Bollywood films have dancing in them" isn't a rare and arcane fact.

You're actually the first person I've yet seen who didn't "get" that part of the film.

[jesse_custer]

To be fair, I didn't get it until I researched Bollywood films.

Trust me, it is very unlikely you are going to learn this shit in Mississippi unless you have an very active interest in film.

But the point is, no matter how you interpret the dancing, it sucked.

[KevinTBrown]

He's not guufy looking. And hey he's the only casting choice i like.



also Slumdog millionare was awesome. And it indeed made me feel good.



I disagree. I mean really what else was there?

That's easy: MILK.

[4PointOh]

To be fair, I didn't get it until I researched Bollywood films.

Trust me, it is very unlikely you are going to learn this shit in Mississippi unless you have an very active interest in film.

But the point is, no matter how you interpret the dancing, it sucked.

Even by Bollywood standards, the dancing in Slumdog was terrible.

[Christopher Cross Is God]

Even by Bollywood standards, the dancing in Slumdog was terrible.

Did Steve-O & Chris Pontius do a better job in Wildboyz?

[Black Atom]

Even by Bollywood standards...

How dare you, sir!?

As I understand it, the seemingly contradictory character of the film is a trait of Bollywood movies also, which tend to be really long and bounce between abject tragedy, romance and slapstick comedy. And of course the dance numbers.

[thespianphryne]

Even by Bollywood standards, the dancing in Slumdog was terrible.

By Bollywood standards the dancing in Bollywood movies is lame.

---

The thing about the dance at the end of the movie is that while to a lot of folks it comes across as a glossing over of the bad things that happened in the story, the only thing weird about it to us Indians is that there was only one dance sequence in the film. The movie was classic Bollywood formula slickly edited and packaged and spoken in English for the most part. If you watch popular and even critical hits from Indian cinema you'd be surprised by how easily the musical number goes in the middle of a seemingly contradictory milieu.

The fact that he gets the girl makes it a happy ending and the song celebrates that. But more relevantly, you can't really think of the song and dance as part of the story of the movie because it's meta-commentary.

[jesse_custer]

Another interesting thing about Bollywood dancing:

I was told by my Indian co-worker that it is not abnormal to see people dancing in theaters during movies in India.

[thespianphryne]

Another interesting thing about Bollywood dancing:

I was told by my Indian co-worker that it is not abnormal to see people dancing in theaters during movies in India.

Or throw money at the screen as a sign of appreciation if the number on the screen is especially good.

But that's in the lower stalls where the groundlings are. It wouldn't happen in upper the balcony seats.

[Charles RB]

As I understand it, the seemingly contradictory character of the film is a trait of Bollywood movies also, which tend to be really long and bounce between abject tragedy, romance and slapstick comedy.

That too.


more relevantly, you can't really think of the song and dance as part of the story of the movie because it's meta-commentary.

I figured you couldn't cos it goes over the credits!

[thespianphryne]

That too.



I figured you couldn't cos it goes over the credits!

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m262/phryneateleusis/CBR/zig.jpg

There is no conflict.

[Cayman]

This movie never should have been nominated for an Oscar, let alone win best picture!

:rolleyes:

What the hell?

[thespianphryne]

Spoiler in white:

Sure, but it's hard for me to believe that someone would spend so much time looking after his brother only to point a gun in his face after a thin "I'm a gangster now" plot point. Boyle never implied the brother was perfect, but that transformation halfway through the film felt like a cheap seesaw trick.

Furthermore, his brother's death had no impact because he's a piece of shit that should have been killed off earlier.

Explanation in white:
His death is not supposed to have any other emotional impact other than that he's dead. Simple morality play. He's an asshole, he dies like one. But at least he buys the kid a little time. Corrupt/bad guy dying horribly for a good cause carries a lot of redemption points and is a trope in Indian cinema.

[Charles RB]

The moral I'm getting from this is that I should watch some Indian films cos they've got good shit in 'em.

[Tages]

By the way, if you want to watch a movie that makes you feel good, check out Kung Fu Panda.

KFP has a third act that makes no flippin' sense.

First off, every character in the film seems near-impossible to actually hurt, and we have no idea what will happen if the bad guy gets what he wants...until we find what's on the scroll. Then we know it's completely harmless. So why not let him have it?

[Tages]

The moral I'm getting from this is that I should watch some Indian films cos they've got good shit in 'em.

That you should.

And read some R. K. Narayan stories.

[TCJohnson]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4-gjGhYEBk&feature=related

[mgs]

Who the hell ever said it was a comedy?

I'd call it "uplifting" before I'd call it "feel good."

The movie itself doesn't lie to you. It starts with a torture for goodness sake. If you don't know what you're in for from that, well, I don't know what to tell you.
i agree with this.

[jesse_custer]

Explanation in white:
His death is not supposed to have any other emotional impact other than that he's dead. Simple morality play. He's an asshole, he dies like one. But at least he buys the kid a little time. Corrupt/bad guy dying horribly for a good cause carries a lot of redemption points and is a trope in Indian cinema.

That's a valid point. At the same time, the scene tried to make you care (or at least, I thought it did), and the problem is that I still don't care about his character or his role as a plot device. A morality play is more effective if you can understand the character despite his or her insanity. Otherwise, the scene appears like garbage that should have been cut out.

But honestly, this all goes back to the ridiculous Scarface transformation. It was almost as if Boyle had shit all over himself but wouldn't clean up the mess.

Yet ... your point still stands about this kind of thing being a staple of Indian cinema. Boyle's dedication to certain tropes is problematic for me in two broader ways:

1. I don't mind people copying others, but copy the good stuff!

2. The morality play and dancing we have discussed would also be tired if they appeared in an American movie. The morality play connection needs no explanation. As for the other connection, people have been dancing by film's end in quite a few American films lately. Thankfully, films like Tropic Thunder and Inland Empire have mocked these scenes with hilarious results.

[jesse_custer]

KFP has a third act that makes no flippin' sense.

First off, every character in the film seems near-impossible to actually hurt, and we have no idea what will happen if the bad guy gets what he wants...until we find what's on the scroll. Then we know it's completely harmless. So why not let him have it?

Well, it is a children's movie. Don't get me wrong, you're absolutely right on both points, but you can't have too many crippled or killed characters without losing your target audience, and the scroll was more or less a plot device to illustrate a lesson to children.

But then again, martial arts films are more fun when they take liberties such as these.

[EdContradictory]

Even by Bollywood standards, the dancing in Slumdog was terrible.

The song was pretty good.

[David O Burcham]

The song was pretty good.

I doubt I'll ever watch the movie again, but the song sure gets a lot of play on my i-Pod.

[LewisH]

something I want to see. I think Stephen Colbert pushing the big red button at the end of Monsters vs Aliens is a more feel good moment.

[thespianphryne]

j_c, is there someplace where we can see which director directed which part of the movie?

I want to see if my hypothesis matches up to reality.

[Spackling Compound]

something I want to see. I think Stephen Colbert pushing the big red button at the end of Monsters vs Aliens is a more feel good moment.

Way to spoil it.

[4PointOh]

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/271325/Slumdog-Millionaire-star-Rubina-Ali-who-played-Latika-is-offered-for-sale-by-dad-Rafiq-Qureshi-to-the-News-of-the-Worlds-Fake-Sheikh.html

[Ghost]

By the way, if you want to watch a movie that makes you feel good, check out Kung Fu Panda.

Kung Fu Panda is one of the best movies I've ever seen.

Not just "one of the best animated movies" or "one of the best children's/family movies", but literally one of the best movies I've seen period.

In fact, just writing this makes me want to watch it all over again. o.O


KFP has a third act that makes no flippin' sense.

First off, every character in the film seems near-impossible to actually hurt,

Well, that's not entirely true. Tai Lung did almost kill Shifu, and it was implied he could have totally murdered the Furious Five as well except he was so damn superior he felt he didn't need to.


and we have no idea what will happen if the bad guy gets what he wants...until we find what's on the scroll. Then we know it's completely harmless. So why not let him have it?

Because Tai Lung was still insanely dangerous, and the first time he had his ambitions denied he damn near tore the whole valley to pieces. That was just Oogway telling him he couldn't have the scroll. God knows what he would have done if he found out it was blank.

[CaptainCanada]

Regarding the dance thing, it's not just a Bollywood trope, it ties into l'il Jamal's statement to Latika shortly before they got separated that when they were adults they'd live in a big house and 'dance' (if you look early on in the dance number, all the men do the 'hair-slick-back' thing that Jamal does earlier).

[Shatagni]

*Facepalms* sigh, yet another "Slumdog was overrated/didn't make me feel good" thread.

From what I gathered from everyone's opinions here about what a "Feel Good" movie should be, I came to the following conclusion:

Simba's father should've NEVER died.

Ol' Yeller should've NEVER got rabies.

George Bailey should've NEVER been suicidal.

And "Life Is Beautiful" should've NEVER been titled "LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL"!

[4PointOh]

*Facepalms* sigh, yet another "Slumdog was overrated/didn't make me feel good" thread.

From what I gathered from everyone's opinions here about what a "Feel Good" movie should be, I came to the following conclusion:

Simba's father should've NEVER died.

Ol' Yeller should've NEVER got rabies.

George Bailey should've NEVER been suicidal.

And "Life Is Beautiful" should've NEVER been titled "LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL"!

Sorry to offend your sensibilities, but I felt that the abuse overpowered the joy in this film. And reading about what's become of the child actors afterwards doesn't help:

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/271325/Slumdog-Millionaire-star-Rubina-Ali-who-played-Latika-is-offered-for-sale-by-dad-Rafiq-Qureshi-to-the-News-of-the-Worlds-Fake-Sheikh.html

So, nah. I didn't "feel good" after I watched the movie. Sorry.

[Spackling Compound]

Sorry to offend your sensibilities, but I felt that the abuse overpowered the joy in this film. And reading about what's become of the child actors afterwards doesn't help:

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/271325/Slumdog-Millionaire-star-Rubina-Ali-who-played-Latika-is-offered-for-sale-by-dad-Rafiq-Qureshi-to-the-News-of-the-Worlds-Fake-Sheikh.html

So, nah. I didn't "feel good" after I watched the movie. Sorry.

Yeah, I think it's just me and you Bobby but I feel the same way. And that is one sad article.

The dance number is totally Bollywood. I get it. But in context, "blues" were songs sung by Black folks who were oppressed. It was meant to make them feel uplifted in the midst of oppression.
White people took the blues and made it par-tay music. We weren't the ones (whites) who were supposed to "feel good".

"Aww..those black folks can't vote, get an education or eat in our diners. But it must not matter because they sure sing and dance a lot! I feel better."

[Shatagni]

Sorry to offend your sensibilities, but I felt that the abuse overpowered the joy in this film. And reading about what's become of the child actors afterwards doesn't help:

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/271325/Slumdog-Millionaire-star-Rubina-Ali-who-played-Latika-is-offered-for-sale-by-dad-Rafiq-Qureshi-to-the-News-of-the-Worlds-Fake-Sheikh.html

So, nah. I didn't "feel good" after I watched the movie. Sorry.

It's kinda like this, If your gonna set a story in Poland during WWII, your gonna see some brutality. If your gonna set it a crime ridden district, your gonna see violence. And if your gonna set it the slums, your gonna see a kid's eyes burned out.

I'm not trying to sound cold or anything but these are "Slices of Life" and they are conflicts that are supposed to be overcome, not ignored and if people can't handle that because it's too "Shocking" fo them then....I guess, they could sit in home all home all day and pretend the world is fine and dandy or something.

It sucks what happened to that girl but I kinda saw it coming, My mom dealt with people from the slums so it's nothing new. But that isn't supposed to change my view of the movie because that's like saying I hated "The Dark Knight" because Heath Ledger died.

Though, I will admit one thing, I'm not sure what people think "Feel good" is supposed to mean. I left the movie feeling entertained with a smile on my face and that was good enough for me.

Sorry for being so explicative but this movie get's bashed for the lamest reasons and I was tolerating it before but it's beginning to wane.

[4PointOh]

It's kinda like this, If your gonna set a story in Poland during WWII, your gonna see some brutality. If your gonna set it a crime ridden district, your gonna see violence. And if your gonna set it the slums, your gonna see a kid's eyes burned out.

I'm not trying to sound cold or anything but these are "Slices of Life" and they are conflicts that are supposed to be overcome, not ignored and if people can't handle that because it's too "Shocking" fo them then....I guess, they could sit in home all home all day and pretend the world is fine and dandy or something.

It sucks what happened to that girl but I kinda saw it coming, My mom dealt with people from the slums so it's nothing new. But that isn't supposed to change my view of the movie because that's like saying I hated "The Dark Knight" because Heath Ledger died.

Though, I will admit one thing, I'm not sure what people think "Feel good" is supposed to mean. I left the movie feeling entertained with a smile on my face and that was good enough for me.

Sorry for being so explicative but this movie get's bashed for the lamest reasons and I was tolerating it before but it's beginning to wane.

I don't believe I ever said that Slumdog Millionaire was a bad film. In fact, I know that's not what I said. However, I simply didn't perceive it as a "feel good" movie. After the DVD stopped playing, my mind didn't linger on the unrequited lovers who had finally been united. My mind kept going back to the brutal treatment of the children and the horrific violence they endured. In my opinion, that ugliness overshadowed any joy I would have felt at the conclusion of the film.

That night, I had dreadful nightmares. So much for feeling good.

[Shatagni]

I don't believe I ever said that Slumdog Millionaire was a bad film. In fact, I know that's not what I said. However, I simply didn't perceive it as a "feel good" movie. After the DVD stopped playing, my mind didn't linger on the unrequited lovers who had finally been united. My mind kept going back to the brutal treatment of the children and the horrific violence they endured. In my opinion, that ugliness overshadowed any joy I would have felt at the conclusion of the film.

That night, I had dreadful nightmares. So much for feeling good.

Oh don't worry, I wasn't targeting you or anyone in particular. Just that every time I see an open thread about this movie it's usually started by someone who has a problem with it. It's either:

A) It didn't deserve an Oscar
B) It's overrated as hell and doesn't hold a candle to my precious Dark Knight
C) the movie is sick torture porn
or
D) all of the above

Yeah, no puns intended.

Anyway, I get what your saying, "Feel good" or not. I felt the same way after hearing about child prostitution rings in Thailand but like I said, "Slice of Life", an awareness such issue may actually result in the betterment for the future, right?

[Charles RB]

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/271325/Slumdog-Millionaire-star-Rubina-Ali-who-played-Latika-is-offered-for-sale-by-dad-Rafiq-Qureshi-to-the-News-of-the-Worlds-Fake-Sheikh.html

The News of the World is a notoriously dodgy tabloid, sister paper to the Sun. There's a very good chance that half or more of the article is bullshit.


And if your gonna set it the slums, your gonna see a kid's eyes burned out.


Well, you could sanitise it so that sort of stuff isn't shown, but then why bother setting in Indian slums?

[Shatagni]

The News of the World is a notoriously dodgy tabloid, sister paper to the Sun. There's a very good chance that half or more of the article is bullshit.

Strangely enough, I haven't found any article relating to this on any of the major Indian news network sites, shouldn't they be the first to know about this? :rolleyes:

[Tages]

Kung Fu Panda is one of the best movies I've ever seen.

Not just "one of the best animated movies" or "one of the best children's/family movies", but literally one of the best movies I've seen period.

In fact, just writing this makes me want to watch it all over again. o.O

My advice, then, would be to watch more movies.


Well, that's not entirely true. Tai Lung did almost kill Shifu, and it was implied he could have totally murdered the Furious Five as well except he was so damn superior he felt he didn't need to.
The FF who are then effortlessly "unlocked," as it were?


Because Tai Lung was still insanely dangerous, and the first time he had his ambitions denied he damn near tore the whole valley to pieces. That was just Oogway telling him he couldn't have the scroll. God knows what he would have done if he found out it was blank.
I can't imagine being more destructive than he was.

Point being, the entire reason he went monkeyshit in the first place was because his ambition was denied. There was no logical reason at all to not just give it to him.

The whole blank scroll thing was incredibly stupid. Taoist philosophy condensed to the insipidity of a Hallmark card. And before anyone says "Well, it's just a kids movie," may I point you in the direction of Wall-E which managed to make its point, and accessibly, without dumbing it down.

[Charles RB]

Strangely enough, I haven't found any article relating to this on any of the major Indian news network sites, shouldn't they be the first to know about this? :rolleyes:

Well, not that unreasonable that a foreign media organ could find out first - all they have to do is go looking for it.

It is fishy if the domestic media doesn't make a big fuss over it, especially when it's regarding an internationally-famous child star.

[Justin D.]

OMG, I'm so glad you said this. I saw this film on DVD a few weeks back. When I told my friends that it was one of the most depressing films I ever saw because what it revealed about the treatment of children, they looked at me with this strange look and said, "But he won the million dollars and finally united with the love of his life," adamant that I had missed the point of the film.

:frown:

Seems to me you understood the film. The lamest complaint I heard about the movie is when people would say something like, "It's too sappy/sweet." I always ask them if they saw the same movie as me. The only thing that turned out well was him winning the money and the two ending up with each other at the end. The rest of movie outline quite a miserable and suffering existence up to that point.

Most of those people who make the "It's too sappy/sweet" comments haven't even seen the movie, but make that assumption because it has a happy ending.

God forbid a good movie have a happy ending.

[Ghost]

My advice, then, would be to watch more movies.

Well, I try, but it's so hard to find anything the lives up to my standards these days.


The FF who are then effortlessly "unlocked," as it were?

I don't recall any other FFs in that movie.


I can't imagine being more destructive than he was.

My advice, then, would be to invest in a better imagination.


Point being, the entire reason he went monkeyshit in the first place was because his ambition was denied. There was no logical reason at all to not just give it to him.

Because that would just have made him go monkeyshit again. Plus, I suspect Shifu was more concerned about simply putting a stop to him at that point.

Besides, Shifu didn't understand the meaning of the scroll either. For all he knew there must have been some secret to unlocking its powers that Oogway never told him about or something. Either way, Tai Lung wasn't the Dragon Warrior so giving him the scroll was still kinda against the rules.

I'm not entirely sure why Po didn't just hand the thing over, though, 'cause I could kinda see him doing that. Maybe he wanted to have a shot at beating Tai Lung first, I dunno.


The whole blank scroll thing was incredibly stupid.

Well, I don't know about incredibly. I found it kinda credible, at least.


Taoist philosophy condensed to the insipidity of a Hallmark card. And before anyone says "Well, it's just a kids movie," may I point you in the direction of Wall-E which managed to make its point, and accessibly, without dumbing it down.

Fair enough. How would you have written it?

[Cam63]

And "Life Is Beautiful" should've NEVER been titled "LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL"!

My way to make it more feel good: The camp guard shoulda shot Benigni at the start of the movie.

[Spackling Compound]

Seems to me you understood the film. The lamest complaint I heard about the movie is when people would say something like, "It's too sappy/sweet." I always ask them if they saw the same movie as me. The only thing that turned out well was him winning the money and the two ending up with each other at the end. The rest of movie outline quite a miserable and suffering existence up to that point.

Most of those people who make the "It's too sappy/sweet" comments haven't even seen the movie, but make that assumption because it has a happy ending.

God forbid a good movie have a happy ending.

Personally, I didn't see any chemistry between the two. She seemed to be too much of a "damsel in distress" and when they were together, she didn't have as much chemistry or history as she did with his brother.

I was looking at it as a survival film and felt that she was, at best, with him because she had a greater chance at survival. Until something better comes along....

[jesse_custer]

And before anyone says "Well, it's just a kids movie," may I point you in the direction of Wall-E which managed to make its point, and accessibly, without dumbing it down.

Actually, toward the final 30 minutes, I felt WALL-E started to dumb things down.

Again, I agree with your points, but they don't necessarily bother me because the film succeeded in being a quality kung fu AND children's movie.

As for what bothered me, the first 25 or 30 minutes. Kung Fu Panda is a mediocre comedy before gaining momentum as a good kung fu film (the jokes get better, too).